2005 Toyota 4Runner complaints

MY 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HAS BECOME SO RUSTED ALONG THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE USED THE VEHICLE FOR HIGHWAY AND NORMAL ROAD USE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING. MY TUNDRA WAS PURCHASED AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. IT HAS NO RUST PROBLEMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE UNDERCOATING OF SOME OF TOYOTA'S VEHICLES. ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

THE VEHICLE RPMS WOULD GO UP BUT THE CAR WOULD BARLEY MOVE, OR WHILE DRIVING GOING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER TO ENGAGE IN TRAFFIC, CORROSION OF PINS IN THE TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THIS HARNESS IS ALSO TIED TO THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL. IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING AS IF IT ACTS UP YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AND SORT OF CHUGS ALONG. DANGEROUS IN ON RAMP AND TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION TO SHORT OUT AS IT WAS HANGING UP ON THE SHIFT WHICH CAUSED A CLUNKING SOUND. THE TRANSMISSION WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED WHICH SHOWED 3 CORRODED PINS. THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REPLACED. *TR

SUN VISOR ON DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT HOLD IT'S UPRIGHT POSITION, IMPAIR VISION OF DRIVER WHILE DRIVING. *TR

DEFECT OCCURS DURING WINTER CONDITIONS ONLY. WHILE STOPPED & ICY CONDITIONS EXIST, THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE HESITATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE COMPUTER CONTROL ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD VERY SLOWLY FOR AT LEAST 5 TO 10 SECONDS AFTER THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, THIS CONDITION HAS LEAD TO CLOSE CALLS WHILE I HAVE INCHED INTO THE INTERSECTION. NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID ONCOMING VEHICLES HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC. THE DEALER NOTED THE VEHICLE IS WORKING PROPERLY. THE MECHANICS NOTED ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THEIR VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE & TOLD HIM THE SAME THING. NOTE THAT THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED EACH WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE APPEARED TO BE LITTLE THAT THE DEALER WOULD "FIX" SINCE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ASSUMED THE ROOT PROBLEM IS WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM, BUT I AM NOT A MECHANIC. *TR

2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR 5 SPARE TIRE BRACKET/ HOLDER SEVERELY PREMATURELY RUSTED. DEALER UNABLE TO REMOVE SPARE TIRE. LUBRICANT APPLIED BY DEALER TO NO AVAIL. BRACKET/HOLDER DEFECT MAKES SPARE TIRE UNAVAILABLE FOR USE AND CAN LEAD TO BRACKET/HOLDER FAILURE. DEALER UNABLE TO REMEDY LEAVING VEHICLE OWNER WITH NO SPARE AND POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC EVENT WHILE VEHICLE IN USE. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS HAD ISSUES WITH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZING UP. WITH ROUGHLY 60K MILES ON IT, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CALIPERS BECAUSE THE LOWER INNER PISTONS WERE SEIZED. I REPLACED THE CALIPERS WITH RE-MANUFACTURED CALIPERS. AT 100K MILES, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CALIPERS AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER FORUMS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANYTHING OTHER THAN REPLACING THE CALIPERS AT MY COST. I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TWICE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. THEY BLAME ROAD SALT FOR THE ISSUE. MY OTHER VEHICLES, AS WELL AS THOSE OF MY NEIGHBORS/FRIENDS/COWORKERS, HAVE OPERATED IN THE SAME CONDITIONS, BUT HAVEN'T HAD THIS ISSUE. THUS FAR, I HAVEN'T HAD A COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE OR INCIDENT FROM THE ISSUE. I'VE NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN THE ROTORS WARP FROM THE CONSTANT HEAT AND REPLACED THE CALIPERS. I'M CONCERNED OVER THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

THE TPMS SENSORS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FAILED WHEN THE METAL VALVE STEM CAPS PROVIDED WITH THE CAR CORRODED TO THE VALVE STEM THREADS. THE VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 60K MILES ON IT WHEN THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR. I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY ROAD SALT AND THE METAL CAPS ON METAL VALVE STEM THREADS (DISSIMILAR METALS). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE AS THE METAL CAPS AND REPLACED THEM WITH PLASTIC CAPS ON NEWER 4RUNNERS. THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO REPLACE THE TPMS SENSORS ON MY VEHICLE HOWEVER WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR (~ $500 JOB). THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE TOLD ME THE SAME STORY ON TWO OCCASIONS. AFTER SEARCHING ON A TOYOTA 4RUNNER FORUM, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY 4RUNNERS. MY TPMS SENSORS WERE REPLACED WITH REGULAR VALVE STEMS BY A LOCAL TIRE SHOP, WHICH IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY ON MY VEHICLE. TO DATE, I HAVEN'T HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES AS I REGULAR MONITOR THE PRESSURE MANUALLY. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO RECONCILE THE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

2005 4RUNNER. CONSUMER STATES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO STOP IT, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING. HE NOTICED THE FLOOR MAT HAD SLIPPED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR. HE DISMISSED IT AS HIS ERROR, BECAUSE HE PLACED THE RUBBER MATS ON TOP OF THE ORIGINAL MATS. *JB

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT PISTONS WERE FROZEN DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $835.00. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO COVER FIFTY PERCENT TOWARDS THE SERVICE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

I WAS DRIVING EAST ON I-66 JUST A FEW MILES FROM I-495 IN FAIRLY HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND 8:55AM ON MARCH 11, 2010. I WASTRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN MY 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE HAD STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER. THE SHUDDERING LASTED 2 TO 3 SECONDS AND THEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY REDUCED THROTTLE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR TRAFFIC INCIDENT, BUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS QUITE UNNERVING. MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY. I CONTINUED ON TO WORK DRIVNG WITH MY HAND ON THE SHIFTER AND I EVEN PRACTICED SHIFTING INTO NUETRAL. WHEN THE PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED, I DID NOT REMEMBER TO SHIFT INTO NUETRAL. EVERYTHING HAD HAPPENED SO FAST AND THE ACCELERATION WAS SO VIOLENT, MY ONLY INSTINCT WAS TO APPLY THE BRAKE DECISIVELY. I DROVE HOME VERY CAREFULLY THAT EVENING AND THEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. MY ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT WAS FOR 1PM, BUT I THOUGHT IT WISER TO DRIVE THERE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS NOT POSSIBLE ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME MY VEHICLE COULD NOT HAVE DONE WHAT I DESCRIBED. THIS IS VERY ALARMING TO ME BECAUSE IT HAPPENED, WHICH MEANS HE EITHER DOESN'T KNOW THE VEHICLE THAT WELL OR HE'S LYING. HE WAS NOT RUDE AND SEEMED VERY PROFESSIONAL, BUT HE WAS INSISITENT THAT MY VEHI

WHEN BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP, THERE IS A VERY LOUD CLUNK THAT CAN BE PHYSICALLY FELT SHUDDERING THROUGH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. MANY MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN NOTHING. THERE IS A TSB FOR THE LEXUS EQUIVALENT OF THE 4RUNNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS MEANS THEY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT ON NON-LEXUS VEHICLES. UNACCEPTABLE. IF THE DRIVESHAFT IS IMPACTING THAT HARD EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STOPS, IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE EXCESSIVE WEAR WILL CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, THE LIGHT DISABLED THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOCAL DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER ONE YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,310. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AFTER THE FIRST DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL VISITS. THE SECOND DEALER INSTALLED A NEW SENSOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 03/26/10

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE TENDS TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR LATE, RIGHT AT STOPPING AND IT FEELS LIKE A BUMP OR SOMEONE HITTING YOU FROM BEHIND. THIS DEPENDS ON HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. IF STOPPED FASTER, THE VEHICLE NEVER SHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR AT STOPPING. AFTER THE BRAKE IS RELEASED THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. MANUALLY DOWN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE IN ALL GEARS FEELS NORMAL EXCEPT FROM SECOND TO FIRST. THERE IS A HESITATION BETWEEN THESE GEARS, THE VEHICLE COAST AS IF IN NEUTRAL FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS THEN SHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR. THIS WEBSITE ALSO DESCRIBES THE "BUMP" FEEL FROM OTHER OWNERS, SEARCH FOR "BUMP" HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0DACC5/175. *TR

PARKING CAR IN SHOPPING MALL LOT. SPOT IS PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC LANE. DIVIDER BETWEEN MY SPOT AND OPPOSITE SPOT. DIVIDER CONSISTS OF ELEVATED PLANTING WITH MATURE BUSHES, AND STEEL POST WITH HANDICAP PARKING SIGN. I HAD MY FOOT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CAR HAD ALMOST STOPPED WHEN SUDDENLY IT ACCELERATED AND "BUCKED FORWARD" ONTO THE PARKING DIVIDER. I CONTINUED TO PRESS DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE. FORWARD MOMENTUM STOPPED AFTER I HIT AND KNOCKED DOWN THE SIGN POST AND HIT FRONT OF A TOYOTA TACOMA.THAT WAS PARKED FACING ME ON OTHERSIDE OF DIVIDER. THE DIVIDER WITH JUNIPER BUSHES ELEVATED MY CAR AND WHEN I STOPPED THE REAR WHEELS WERE SUSPENDED OFF THE PAVEMENT. I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE DURING THIS TIME, PUT THE GEAR INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT. DEPLOY. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR BY DENSE JUNIPER BUSHES ON BOTH SIDES DOORS, AND REQUIRED ASSISTANCE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WAS NOT INJURED - JUST SCARED. I CALLED MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW TO THE SCENE, SINCE HE DRIVES A TOYOTA TUNDRA, HE LOOKED AT THE FLOOR MAT ON DRIVERS SIDE. IT WAS IN PLACE, HAD NOT MOVED FORWARD. BECAUSE OF THE WINTER WEATHER WITH SNOW, WE HAD AN AFTER MARKET FLOORMAT. MY HUSBAND HAD CUT OFF THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER TO INSURE THAT IF IT DID COME LOOSE, IT COULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE GAS PEDAL. THE MAT WAS RESTRAINED BY REAR EDGE THAT PROTRUDED DOWN AND RESTRAINED BY THE TWO RAISED CLIPS ON THE FLOOR. BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATED REAR WHEELS, WE NEEDED A TOW TRUCK TO PULL MY CAR OFF TH

2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS HAVE A VERY FREQUENTLY REPORTED VIBRATION ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS REPORTED ALL OVER THE WEB AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEALERS NATIONWIDE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, 2004 TO 2007 4RUNNERS ARE ALL IMPACTED. CUSTOMER SPEND 1000S OF DOLLARS REPLACING TIRES, BALANCING WHEELS, REPLACING STEERING WHEELS, ETC AND THE CAR STILL VIBRATES AND IS SUSPECT TO BE UNSAFE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THIS IS THE DESIGN OF THE CALL. STEERING WHEEL CAN SHAKE BADLY. I HAVE HAD MY 4RUNNER IN MANY TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE TO MULTIPLE DEALERS. ALL SAY IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT ALL 4RUNNERS OF SAME VINTAGE HAVE SAME ISSUE, SO NOTHING THAT TOYOTA WILL DO ABOUT IT. *TR

EVERY SO OFTEN MY 2005 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WILL LURCH FORWARD AT A STOP. ITS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS BEING REARENDED. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND AT RANDOM TIMES DURING A TYPICAL DAY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO LOCK IN 4TH GEAR IF WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SLOW SUDDENLY - THIS IS CORRECTED BY PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE, SHUTTING DOWN THE VEHICLE AND WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD, INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE POLICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE OPPOSING VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGES. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT DURING SUDDEN BRAKING OCCURRENCES. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN THREE COLLISIONS AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING TO INCLUDE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND REPAIRED EACH TIME THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE.

FREQUENTLY WHEN I DRIVE ON A BUMPY SURFACE OR SLOPED BUMPY SURFACE AND PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT SEEMS TO FAIL MOMENTARILY. I FEEL THAT THE BRAKE IS UNRESPONSIVE AND NEED TO RELEASE AND PUSH THE PEDAL AGAIN. IT CREATE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE TO OF THE ROAD AS SAFETY. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HAD 6 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENTS SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN NOVEMBER 2005. I HAVE MAINTAINED A LOG. THE INTENSITY OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION VARIED, THE TACHOMETER REACHING 4000 AND ABOVE. DURATION WAS ESTIMATED FROM 3 SECONDS TO OVER 5 SECONDS. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE VARIED FROM ABOUT 73OF TO 34OF. ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED BETWEEN EARLY JULY TO EARLY DECEMBER, AND NONE DURING VERY HIGH OR VERY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. IN ONE CASE THERE WERE SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE ACCELERATION SURGES. ALL INSTANCES WERE WITHIN 5 MILES OF MY HOME. OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN SPORADIC, INFREQUENT, AND UNEXPECTED, AND AT LOW SPEED, MOSTLY IN CLOSE QUARTER PARKING SITUATIONS AND AT ALL TIMES WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2008, I NOTIFIED TOYOTA COMPANY BY TELEPHONE OF THE INCIDENT HISTORY; I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I COMPLIED WITH A DIRECTIVE TO REMOVE AFTER MARKET FLOOR MATS THAT COVERED THE FACTORY MATS. FYI, THE AFTER MARKET NON-FACTORY FLOOR MATS WERE NOT INTERFERING WITH OR NEAR THE ACCELERATOR, AND I HAVE HAD FURTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SUBSEQUENT TO MAT REMOVAL. LIKEWISE, MY FOOT WAS NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. IN DECEMBER 2009 THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE MANAGER DROVE MY VEHICLE 144 MILES OVER A WEEK'S PERIOD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT EVIDENCE DOES NOT POINT TOWARDS A STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE IN ALL INSTANCES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE THE ENGINE ACCELERATION SURGED MULTIPLE T

THE EMERGENCY BAKE ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER-2005 DO NOT HOLD .THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN FOWARD OR IN REVERSE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ON.MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS 33,000. MILES. THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WAS REQUESTED TO FIX THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT THAT THE WAY THEY ARE & LIVE WITH THEM. *CN

I AM WRITING TODAY TO ALERT YOU TO A POTENTIAL ACCELERATOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUV. IN MID-DECEMBER, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR INEXPLICABLY ACCELERATED, GOING FROM APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH TO ABOUT 60 MPH WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS. MY HUSBAND, WHO HAS HAD PROFESSIONAL DRIVING INSTRUCTION, PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, AT WHICH POINT THE ACCELERATOR (WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE FLOOR WITHOUT A FOOT ON IT) POPPED BACK UP AND THE BRAKES BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER, WITHIN THIS SAME JOURNEY, THIS SAME ACCELERATOR PROGRAM OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE SUV TO TOYOTA OF ALEXANDRIA IN VIRGINIA AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY NOTIFIED US THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS BUT, BASED ON OUR CONCERNS, AGREED TO EXAMINE THE SUV. TO THEIR CREDIT, THEY DID CALL IN A CORPORATE INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE DISSEMBLED DRIVE TRAIN WHO IN TURN DETERMINED THAT AN ACCUMULATION OF OIL IN THE DIFFERENTIALS CAUSED THE CARS COMPUTER TO MISREAD ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION INFORMATION. DESPITE THIS DIAGNOSIS -- AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVE TRAIN AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS -- TOYOTA MECHANICS WERE NEVER ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT WE EXPERIENCED. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WE WERE ADVISED TO PURSUE ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA AND ARE CURRENTLY ENTRENCHED IN THAT PROCESS. IN THE INTE

THIS IS REGARDING THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. EVERY TIME I HIT A POT HOLE AS IM PRESSING ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE STOPS BRAKING. EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUES MOVING AS IF NO BRAKING WAS APPLIED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IF I HIT A POT HOLE OR BUMP WHILE IM PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IM REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE I SEE THAT SIMILAR SITUATION IS OCCURRING WITH THE PRIUS VEHICLES. I DID REPORT THIS ISSUE TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OVER A YEAR AGO AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH MY SUV. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA ROADRUNNER. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I HAD EXPERIENCE WHERE THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO WANT TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS 'BRAKING' TO A STOP. ON THE 1ST OCCURRENCE, I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A 'FLOOR MAT' ISSUE. I KNOW FOR SURE IT WAS NOT!!. THE OTHER TWO OCCURRENCES HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY, FLOOR MATS WERE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WAS NOT STICKING. I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP, AND IT GAVE ME BACK CONTROL. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) COMPUTER PROBLEM OR SENSOR PROBLEM. I AM A RETIRED ELECTRICAL ENGINEER , MY BACKGROUND IS INTO COMPUTERS AND SMALL MICROPROCESSORS. I WORKED OVER 37 YEARS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY ON CONTROL SYSTEMS USING PROCESSORS SIMILAR TO THOSE USED IN AUTOMOBILES. I AM AWAITING THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND WHEN IT DOES I'M GOING TO KEEP FILING THESE COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. SHE STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, LEAPED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. TWO IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY; HOWEVER,THEY DIDN'T RESULT IN A CRASH. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 35,000. UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER "FROZEN", BOTH. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT BRAKE SHOPS AND ALL SAID THAT IT IS A "COMMON PROBLEM". TOYOTA DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE AND IN FACT WANTED ABOUT TWICE WHAT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP CHARGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT LANES AT 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE WAS ABLE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF HER COMPLAINT. UPDATED 02/01/2010.*JB

SEVERE UNDER CARRIAGE RUST,EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF ALLOY RIMS ,ALL 5 WHEELS. *TR

DETAILS: VEHICLE 2005 4 RUNNER LIMITED 4WD. THE FOLLOWING OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, LOUD CLUNK SOUND AND VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD RIGHT AFTER A FULL STOP. INFREQUENTLY THE CLUCK AND JOLT WILL OCCUR ONCE STOPPED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED TO OCCUR AFTER ABOUT TWENTY THOUSAND MILES. AT ABOUT 3600 MILES THE TOYOTA WAS ASKED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO NOTE ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO ASSUME THAT TOYOTA IS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE GIVEN THE NUMBER OF UNITS ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ACTIVATED AT 65 MPH SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST THE INTENDED SPEED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION SHE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NOT A FLOOR-MAT INTERFERENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS DID NOT PROVIDE HER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48675.

1. HAPPENED SINCE ABOUT 15-20K MILES ON MY 2005 4RUNNER (I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER). 2. OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, LARGE CLUNK SOUND AND VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD RIGHT AFTER A FULL STOP. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. EACH TIME THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE TECH TAKES IT FOR A RIDE THEY CANNOT REPLICATE IT, I WENT ONCE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE IT AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ISSUE (SEE THIS ONE: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/4RUNNER/53302-4RUNNER-V8-CLUNK-IN-DRIVETRAIN/). APPARENTLY A RECALL FIX FOR THE LEXUS 470 (SAME AS A TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIKE MINE) HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR LEXUS OWNERS BUT NOT FOR TOYOTA OWNERS. THE PARTS TO SOLVE THE ISSUE ARE IDENTICAL. TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED UNLESS TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. ACTUALLY ISSUES A RECALL AND PROVIDES DETAILS ON A FIX, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING SINCE WE CANNOT REPLICATE IT WHEN THEY ARE SERVICING MY 4RUNNER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER DEACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FLOOR-MAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, SHE BELIEVED THAT THE TECHNICIANS HAVE INCORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,675.

I WAS IN A 4 CAR PILE UP AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT AND WAS ALSO REARENDED. MYHOOD WENTUP FROMTHE IMPACT AND MY HEAD HIT THE DASH OR STEERINGWHEEL. THE DOORS WERE JAMMED SHUT AND I HAD TO BE PRIED OUT BY THE FIRE DEPT. *TR

MY 05 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS PRESSURE MONITORS AND THE VALVE CORES CONTINUE TO LEAK AIR, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SINCE THE TIRES ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOSING AIR AND GOING FLAT. HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE STOPPING AND PUTTING MORE AIR IN THEM. TIRE SHOP SAYS THE STEMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED THROUGH TOYOTA, SINCE THEY ARE PART OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SAFETY SYSTEM. TOYOTA JUST PUTS AIR IN THEM AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 07. EVEN WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE STEMS. I JUST DO NOT DRIVE THE TOYOTA MUCH ANYMORE, SINCE I DO NOT THINK IT IS SAFE. I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES TO DRIVE. BUT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFER ME BACK TO THE DEALER.. I DO NOT LIVE CLOSE TO THE DEALER, SEVERAL HOURS DRIVE TO GET THERE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ALWAYS TURNED TO THE LEFT. HE THEN HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE STABILIZER BAR SNAPPED AND THE METAL APPEARED TO BE CRYSTALLIZED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR AND THE RACK AND PINION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT SERVICED AT A DEALER. THE CONTACT BELIEVES A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN I COME TO A STOP IN MY 2005 4RUNNER I HEAR A CLUNK AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS JUST REAR ENDED ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND IS GETTING WORSE. LEXUS HAS A TSB FOR THIS EXACT SAME COMPLAINT YET TOYOTA PRODUCTS DO NOT. WHY IS THAT? TSB#DL002-07. *TR

THE PROBLEM IS THE SUDDEN REDUCTION OF BRAKING POWER. IT HAPPENED TWICE DURING THE COURSE OF THE OWNER SHIP OF MY SUV. LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 01/31/2009. EARLY IN THE MORNING I WAS BACKING UP FROM MY GARAGE BY USING THE REVERSE GEAR AND THEN I SWITCHED THE GEAR TO D TO MOVE FORWARD. MY DRIVEWAY SLOPES DOWN AWAY FROM MY GARAGE. WHILE MOVING FORWARD AWAY FROM THE GARAGE I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE SUV WAS STILL MOVING. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE FEW TIMES STOP. THE BREAK SYSTEM ACTED LIKE THAT FOR NEXT 2-3 HOURS AND THEN IT WENT BACK TO 'NORMAL'. THE FIST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, TOYOTA LOOKED AT IT BUT APPARENTLY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING. I DON'T KNOW WHEN AND WHERE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. HOPEFULLY NOT ON THE FREEWAY GOING 55 MPH. HONESTLY I DON'T TRUST THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THIS SUV ANY MORE. *TR

DRIVESHAFT CLUNKS AFTER COMING TO A STOP ALSO ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. *TR

TIRE STEM VALVE CAPS ARE UNABLE TO BE REMOVED DUE TO A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING (ALL 4 TIRES PLUS THE SPARE). I AM UNABLE TO ADD OR REMOVE AIR FROM THE TIRES CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. THE ONLY OPTION OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER IS THEY HAVE OFFERED TO BREAK THE PART OFF AND CHARGE US TO REPLACE IT (>$500 REPAIR). NO ACCIDENT HAS YET BEEN CAUSED. *TR

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A CONTROLLED (LIGHT) INTERSECTION, MY REAR WHEEL SKIDDED SLIGHTLY ON THE WET PAVEMENT. AT THAT POINT THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN AND TOTALLY LOCKED UP THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN 180 DEGREES AND TEARING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY OFF THE WHEEL. DURING THIS SPIN I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE WHICH ENDED UP CROSSING THE HIGHWAY DIVIDER BEFORE COMING TO REST IN THE LANE OF THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES HAPPENED TO BE IN THAT LANE AT THE TIME OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER WHO CLAIMED THAT A CHECK OF THE COMPUTER REVEALED NO ERRONEOUS MESSAGE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM, LEADING THEM TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE WAS NO EQUIPMENT FAILURE DESPITE THE OBVIOUS EVIDENCE OF THE TIRE HAVING BEEN TORN OFF THE WHEEL. I FEEL THAT IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT EVEN A MODERATELY HIGHER SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE OVERTURNED, AND IF IT HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WOULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES. ONCE I DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THE DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR CLAIMING LEGAL LIABILITY CONCERNS. *TR

OIL LEAK CAUSED FIRE MELTING SERPENTINE BELT. *TR

DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY FOLLOWING A DIRECT FRONT COLLISION HAVING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BUMPER AND MOTOR ON A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *TR

IF THE BACK WINDOW IS OPEN AND THE AIR HANDLER IS ON RECURCULATE EXHAUST GETS PULLED INTO THE CAR. *TR

DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 8 AT APPX 77 MPH; 60 MILES EAST OF YUMA WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. VEHICLE SWERVED SEVERELY BUT WAS MANAGEABLE. ROADWAY WAS DRY, 90 DEGREES F, NO DEBRIS, TIRE STILL IN OWNERS POSSESSION. *TR

IN GENERAL, WHEN I PULL UP TO A STOP I SOMETIMES FEEL A CLUNK. THEN, WHEN I START AGAIN, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE RELEASE IS DELAYED WITH ANOTHER CLUNK. THERE'S A FEW LEXUS GX470 OWNERS (SAME ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN AS 4RUNNER) THAT ARE COMPLAINING AT OTHER SITES. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE TWO PIECE DRIVESHAFT GETS AIR COMPRESSED INSIDE, AND WHEN THE COMPRESSION LEAKS OUT, YOU GET THE CLUNK. LEXUS IS APPARENTLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. *JB

CRUISE CONTROL GOES CRAZY ON HILLS. IT WAITS TOO LONG TO ACCELERATE AND THEN IT FLOORS THE GAS AND THE AUTO TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AT LEAST TWO GEARS AND RACES THE ENGINE WAY PAST THE SPEED YOU WANT AND THEN IT FINALLY LETS UP AND THE SPEED DROPS TOO LOW AND EVERYTHING REPEATS. DANGEROUS AND ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS! HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2005. *TR

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, A SMALL BUMP WAS HIT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF POWER BREAKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SO FAR WITHOUT A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE WHEELS, NOTICED FOUR LUG NUTS ON THE PASSENGER FRONT WERE MISSING, AND THE OTHER THREE TIRE LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2003 MODEL (RECALL# 02V339000). THE CONTACT FEELS HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 30000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW. I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE CAR SEEMED TO LURCH FORWARD. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED A MONTH BEFORE AND MY WIFE HAS EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS WELL. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 30 MPH DUE TO THE WOBBLING OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR WAS CUT IN HALF BY A HACKSAW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR, AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.*AK

V8, 4WD. IDLE RPM IS WAY TOO HIGH. WHEN A/C COMPRESSOR KICKS IN IDLE CAN BE AS HIGH AS 1500 RPM. HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL PULLING INTO GARAGE, AS THE BRAKE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MODULATE AT THAT RPM. TWICE INTO DEALER FOR THIS AND TOLD "...IT IS NORMAL". WIFE AFRAID TO DRIVE INTO THE GARAGE AND I HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE WHEN A/C IS ON. HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE IDLE AT THIS HIGH AN RPM. DIFFICULT TO HOLD AT STOP SIGN AND WILL IDLE AWAY AT A GOOD PACE WITH NO ACCELERATOR APPLIED. *JB